In the village of Oakvale-On-Roe – (025) First Dates

 

Hannah Wells and Joe Macbeth spent an enjoyable 90 minutes at the Copper Kettle in Nettlefield and the time flew by, but they only covered general reminiscences, and neither of them broached the subject they most wanted to, the New Years Eve kiss.   

But what they did talk about was a date on Saturday night at the Blue Orchid though neither of them called it a date and the encounter ended without an embrace.

Ross Grant and Clare Macbeth also had plans for Saturday, the matinee performance at the Magic Lantern Cinema followed by dinner at the Boars Head, and their encounter very definitely didn’t end without an embrace.

 

As Ross Grant lived on Roeside Farm, which was on the Nettlefield side of Oakvale, it would therefore have made more sense Geographically for Clare to have picked him up on route, but as it was their first date he wanted to begin as he intended to go on and do the gentlemanly thing and pick her up, so that’s what he did.

They watched a rather mediocre movie at the Magic Lantern, but they didn’t mind as they sat in the dark holding hands.

It had been a gloriously sunny autumnal afternoon when Ross drove into the Kingfisher Shopping Mall Multistorey carpark, but when they left the Cinema, it was dark and cold, so they rushed arm in arm across the square and into the Boars Head.

 

Hannah Wells had her own flat in Nettlefield so didn’t need picking up by Clare’s younger brother Joe and at the same time Ross and Clare were crossing the square, Hannah and Joe were meeting by the fountain on the main concourse of the Mall.

There was a moment’s hesitation from both parties as they deliberated whether or not to go in for a kiss, in the end he decided he should but only managed to clumsily kiss her on the cheek.

“Well, that’s a start” she thought to herself.

 

After a very enjoyable meal at the Blue Orchid Hannah and Joe left the restaurant and shivered the moment their feet steeped onto the pavement as the temperature had dropped substantially so they wrapped up against the cold and hurried arm in arm towards the warmth of the Kingfisher.

Clare and Ross arrived at the Mall slightly ahead of the others and they were glad to get out of the cold, they had also enjoyed their dinner, and each other’s company, and were holding hands as they walked slowly towards the escalators.

 

“Isn’t that your sister up ahead with my colleague Ross?” Hannah said as they stepped through the sliding doors.

“Yes, it is” he agreed.

“I didn’t know they were a thing, did you know?”

“Yes, but it’s only been a couple of days” he said and got distracted by a display in a shop window.

“Well, it’s clearly going well” Hannah stated.

“What makes you think that?” he asked still window shopping.

“Well, because they’re snogging.”

“They are?” He said, “So they are, good for them.”

“Yes, it’s great” she said, “But can you explain something to me?”

“Sure, ask away.”

“Why aren’t we doing that?”

“That’s a very good point, well made” he said.

“So, I think we should give it a try.”

“I agree” Hannah said and immediately occupied his mouth so he couldn’t speak again.